Propeller guarding assembly

ABSTRACT

A propeller guard assembly for enclosing the propeller blades of a marine propeller to prevent them from striking marine animals. The propeller guard assembly comprises a front cage portion hingedly attached to a back cage portion. The front cage portion and back cage portion are each defined by a plurality of bars extending radially from a center area to a circumferential bar. The front cage portion and back cage portion are hingedly coupled by a hinge, thereby enabling them to swing between an open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the front cage portion and back cage portion can be selectively fastened together by a fastening clip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to marine propulsion components and, more particularly, to a propeller guarding assembly for use on an outboard watercraft propulsion apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of outboard propulsion devices, such as a marine propellers, to supply thrust to a watercraft is well known. A problem which still exists, however, is that when such propellers are used on smaller sized vessels, such as a conventional pleasure craft, particularly in smaller bodies of water (for example rivers, lakes, or canals), they often collide with aquatic animals, including manatees. Such collisions have commonly led to maiming, disfigurement, and even death of such animals. Thus, there remains a need for a propeller guard assembly which would prevent marine animals from purposely or inadvertently contacting propeller blades. It would be helpful if such a propeller guard assembly included a housing cage that restricted access to the propeller blades while freely allowing fluid to pass through the blades. It would be additionally desirable for such a propeller guard assembly to include a hinged attachment mechanism that allowed it to be snapped on to existing propeller assemblies.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a propeller guard assembly adapted to enclose the blades of a marine propeller while not restricting their functionality. The primary components in Applicant's propeller guard assembly are a front cage portion, a back cage portion, and a fastening clip. When in operation, the propeller guard assembly prevents propeller blades from striking nearby animals in a body of water. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A propeller guard assembly for enclosing the propeller blades of a marine propeller to prevent them from striking marine animals. The propeller guard assembly comprises a front cage portion hingedly attached to a back cage portion. The front cage portion and back cage portion are each defined by a plurality of bars extending radially from a center area to a circumferential bar. The front cage portion and back cage portion are hingedly coupled by a hinge, thereby enabling them to swing between an open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the front cage portion and back cage portion can be selectively fastened together by a fastening clip.

It is an object of this invention to provide a propeller guard assembly which would prevent marine animals from purposely or inadvertently contacting propeller blades.

It is another object of this invention to provide a propeller guard assembly that includes a housing cage that restricted access to the propeller blades while freely allowing fluid to pass through the blades.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a propeller guard assembly that includes a hinged attachment mechanism that allowed it to be snapped on to existing propeller assemblies.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a propeller guard assembly built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of a back cage portion of a propeller guard assembly built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a propeller guard assembly built in accordance with the present invention shown in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a propeller guard assembly built in accordance with the present invention shown in an closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a propeller guard assembly 10 is shown having a front cage portion 11 coupled with a back cage portion 12. The front cage portion 11 is defined by a plurality of radial bars 14 extending from a center point 15 to a circumferential bar 16. Similarly, the back cage portion 12′ is defined by a plurality of radial bars 14′. In the back cage portion 11′, the radial bars 14′ extend from a center member 15′ to a circumferential bar 16′. The circumferential bar 16′, however, is not continuous as it includes an attachment space 12 that enables an connecting structure holding a propeller to be inserted into the propeller guard assembly 10. The center member 15′ includes a spring loaded fastener 15 a that can be slid open to expose a corresponding center gap 12′ that enables it to receive and then secure such an connecting structure of a propeller. In the preferred embodiment, the radial bars 14, 14′, center point 15, center member 15′ and the circumferential bars 16, 16′ are constructed of steel.

The front cage portion 11 and back cage portion 12 are hingedly coupled by a hinge 17, thereby enabling them to swing between an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and a closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. When in the closed position, the front cage portion 11 and back cage portion 12 can be selectively fastened together by a fastening clip 18. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening clip defines a latch fastener.

It is appreciated that the propeller guard assembly 10 may be constructed in various sizes for attachment to various size propellers.

It is contemplated that the exclusive use of radial bars, as opposed to bars in an intersecting or other conventional cage pattern, maximally reduces the obstruction of fluid around the propeller blades 20 which would cause a reduction of efficiency on the propeller. Furthermore, the exclusive use of radial bars improves the ability of the propeller guard assembly 10 to be attached to the propellers on various motors by fitting around an connecting structure that connects the propeller to the motor or boat.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A propeller guard assembly, comprising: a front cage portion defined by a plurality of front radial bars extending from a center member to a front circumferential bar; a back cage portion defined by a plurality of back radial bars extending from a center element to a back circumferential bar, wherein said back cage portion and front cage portion are hingedly attached so as to enable them to swing between an open position and a closed position; and a fastening clip integral with at least one of the front circumferential bar and the back circumferential bar, wherein the fastening clip is configured to selectively fasten said front circumferential bar and back circumferential bar together when the front cage portion and back cage portion are in the closed position.
 2. The propeller guard assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said front radial bars extend from the center member to the front circumferential bar without intersecting any other structures.
 3. The propeller guard assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said back radial bars extend from the center element to the back circumferential bar without intersecting any other structures.
 4. The propeller guard assembly of claim 1, wherein said center element includes a hollow center configured to receive and hold an connecting structure from which a marine propeller extends.
 5. The propeller guard assembly of claim 4, wherein said center element includes a center gap configured to enable an connecting structure from which a marine propeller extends to pass into the hollow center.
 6. The propeller guard assembly of claim 5, wherein said center gap is selectably closeable by operation of a spring loaded fastener disposed on said center element.
 7. The propeller guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the back circumferential bar includes an attachment space configured to enable an connecting structure from which a marine propeller extends to pass into the back cage portion. 